Sponsored Programs: Missoula Children's Theater
Each year Lake Wilderness PTSA sponsors Missoula Children's Theater (MCT) for a one week in the Fall. MCT sends a team of two adult professional Actor/Directors typically college graduates with training in either education, theatre, musical theatre or a combination. The MCT representatives conduct an audition, hold daily rehearsals, and two final performances... all in the matter of a week. It is an intense production with amazing benefits!
The primary goal of Missoula Children's Theater (MCT) is the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts. Within each MCT cast, girls and boys are equal; the disabled become able; the shy experiment with bravery; the slow are rehearsed to perfection; and the gifted become part of the whole. The lesson they learn is that all of them are necessary for the show to go on. Few arenas exist where responsibility is taught and learned so clearly. MCT provides a unique opportunity to learn the lessons of group dynamics while excelling as an individual – a lesson from art that carries into life.
MCT strives to use participation in the performing arts as a vehicle to develop life skills including social skills, communication skills, self-discipline, a strong work ethic, an understanding of the team concept and self-esteem.
How many children can be in the cast?
The shows are written to incorporate an age range of 50-60 school
age children.
How long are the auditions?
The auditions last two full hours. Each child who attends the
audition will need to be present for the entire two hours.
Should the students prepare anything for auditions?
The group audition is a 2-hour process at which all children who are
interested in being cast must attend for the entire time. No
preparation is needed. The MCT actor/directors will guide the
children through the audition process with easy to follow
instructions on basic movement, lines and song. At the end of the
two-hour audition, the cast will be announced, and each cast member
will receive a rehearsal schedule for the week. Rehearsal is
a total of 4 ½ hours each day, two-2 hour sessions with a short
snack break in-between. Although not all cast members are
needed at every session, those auditioning must have a clear
schedule for the entire week, and if selected, be able to attend all
rehearsals required for their role.
Do your teams have background checks?
Yes. With more than 37 years of touring internationally,
visiting nearly 1,300 communities and working with 65,000 children
annually MCT takes their hiring practices very seriously. Each
individual on staff goes through an arduous process of interviews,
reference checks, criminal background checks and fingerprinting –
both background checks and fingerprinting are completed by a
nationally recognized company.
How long are the shows?
Each show is approximately 60-70 minutes in length – there is no
intermission.
What if my child isn’t cast in the show?
The quality of experience that each child to receives is one
of the main reasons for limiting the number of children that can be
in the show. Over the last thirty seven years of touring, MCT
has found there are a maximum number of children that two directors
can teach well in one week. If more kids are added, at any age
level, the directors become spread too thin and therefore are unable
to give the appropriate amount of individual attention to the
children to make each child’s personal experience safe, positive and
successful. This is admittedly the most difficult aspect of their
job.
What happens if my child gets sick during the week?
It is understandable that illness may occur during the week and
the MCT Team will try their best to accommodate a missed rehearsal
due to an illness. However, due to the short timeframe the cast has
to prepare for the performance, if your student is out for more than
one day it may not be possible for them to still participate in
the role that they were cast.